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rufinaogunlesi

@rufinaogunlesi

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Entrepreneur • Creative Director
Founder of @floralbarbysr @saint.rufina @saintrufina.homes @rumandpassion @thegoodpeoplesr @thewyldbar 🌎 Lagos|London

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Rusty, but we’re back!

I’ve always boxed and skipped just haven’t been as consistent lately. Time to get back into it.

Boxing
Skipping
Walking
And definitely more Padel

But walking will forever be top of the list for me.

So I’m setting myself a challenge: 250KM in one month. That’s about 8KM a day 😮‍💨

Who’s down to do it with me?!

Just trying to move more, get stronger, stay consistent and do the things I actually enjoy. 🤍

#250KMChallenge by @rufinaogunlesi

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3 days ago

After six months of stalling, I finally did it!

I honestly can’t count how many interviews I’ve cancelled. Always finding a reason to put it off, even though I have so much to share. At this point, even I was tired of my excuses! 🙈

But this time, I showed up, nerves and all. Please, a small round of applause! 👏🏽

This might look like just a podcast interview, but for me, it’s a personal win. I’ve poured so much into building my businesses, and I’m learning to be proud enough and brave enough to share the person and story behind them.

Coming to the Front has pushed me to be bolder, and I’m proud of myself for taking this step.

Who else has been putting off something they really want to do? Let this be your little nudge. 🤍

#frontroom #cometothefront

@zeph_ovia @thestarnetworkpod by @rufinaogunlesi

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5 days ago

MY HOT TAKE: Some clients suddenly understand the value of creative work when the vendor is abroad. 😩

Over 10 years ago, I was hired as a cocktail vendor for a wealthy Nigerian family’s traditional wedding in Lagos.

My bill was ₦685,000. I received 50%, did the event and…

The wedding happened. My balance didn’t.

Four months later, I was still chasing ₦166,500.

Meanwhile, their white wedding abroad had gone ahead.

And that’s something I’ve never forgotten.

Because even today, a Nigerian vendor sends an invoice and it’s:

“Why is it so expensive?”
“What’s your last price?”
“Can you remove the VAT?”
“Can I pay the balance after the event?”

An international vendor sends theirs in pounds or dollars?

Suddenly everybody understands terms & conditions.

Deposit? Paid.
Taxes? Paid.
Balance due 30 days before? Paid.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian vendor is sending:

“Good afternoon ma, just a gentle reminder…”

And please don’t assume that because a vendor comes from a comfortable family, “she’ll be fine.”

My family background has nothing to do with my own hard-earned money.

Whether I need the money is irrelevant.

I earned it. Pay me.

Sometimes people genuinely don’t have the money. But sometimes? They have it and simply don’t prioritise paying you.

15 years in business has taught me plenty, but this one is permanent:

No full payment. No service.

So I’m curious, why do some clients respect international vendors’ prices and payment terms more than Nigerian vendors’?

Clients, planners and vendors… come to the front.

P.S. I have stories for DAYS. by @rufinaogunlesi

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10 days ago

30/30! Please allow me to dance—because I DID THAT! 💃🏽

I joined Come to the Front to share more of my work. What surprised me was how much more comfortable I became with saying, “This is what I’m building. And I’m proud of it.”

There’s so much of me in @saint.rufina , @rumandpassion and @thegoodpeoplesr . These 30 days helped me share the woman behind the businesses, too.

Now I go out and people mention my posts. Some don’t follow me. Some have never liked or commented. But they’ve seen them. They remember.

Don’t mistake silence for nobody paying attention. Keep posting.

My September views increased by 157%, and 56% came from non-followers. One “shoot your shot” message also opened a conversation about a possible collaboration. Still being explored but I’ll share when it’s confirmed! 😃

Give people the chance to say yes.

Completing all 30 days means so much to me. I committed to something for myself and followed it through. Even when I had to catch up, I came back. 🥹🤍

Thank you, Kunbi, for the push and the space to grow. To my fellow Frontliners and everyone who watched, shared, commented or encouraged me, thank you.

If you’ve been hiding your work or waiting to feel ready, COME TO THE FRONT. Join @kunbiesq October challenge. Give yourself and your work a chance to be seen.

I’m going to keep showing up, making bold asks and celebrating what I’m building.

For now, enjoy my victory dance from last night at The Listening Room. A goooood night, @mr0zzy ! 💃🏽

Thirty days completed. And I’m still showing up.

#ComeToTheFront #Day30 by @rufinaogunlesi

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13 days ago

Cometothefront DAY 28 — EXPECTATION vs. REALITY

People see the finished event: the beautiful space, the food and drinks, and everyone having a good time.

What I see is everything that happened before the doors opened: the setup, the changes, the questions, the last-minute decisions, and all the people working to bring it together.

It’s much the same with Saint Rufina and Rum & Passion. The finished product may look effortless, but there’s always a lot happening behind it.

And sometimes I pretend I have absolutely nothing to do and go to sleep. Balance. 😌

@thegoodpeoplesr by @rufinaogunlesi

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17 days ago

DAY 23 — WIN WEDNESDAY ( better late than never)

Earlier this year, we worked on Becoming Ancestors, an art exhibition and play. I was involved in planning the event, curating the experience and bringing the décor together.

There was a lot to coordinate behind the scenes, so receiving this message afterwards meant so much to me. She noticed the details, the timelines and the communication that helped everything come together.

It’s easy to move straight on to the next project. Today I’m letting myself pause and appreciate this one. Thank you for trusting me with Becoming Ancestors. ❤️

#ComeToTheFront by @rufinaogunlesi

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22 days ago

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22 days ago

My hot take: the Nigerian events industry needs to retire compulsory physical vendors’ meetings—especially meetings involving every single vendor.

We have a relatively small circuit of frequently used event venues, and most experienced vendors already know them.

If the event is taking place at an unfamiliar private home, I understand the need for a site inspection—but every vendor still doesn’t need to attend.

Why should the amala vendor serving from the back, or the cake vendor who is simply delivering and setting up a wedding cake, spend two hours listening to conversations about lighting, décor, valet parking and entertainment?

Calling a meeting doesn’t automatically make a planner professional. Good coordination means giving the right information to the right vendors at the right time.

If the entire meeting is to tell us to wear a white shirt and black trousers, WhatsApp exists. 😂 And half the time, details discussed at these meetings still change before the event.

While we’re here, please stop asking food vendors to arrive at 8 a.m. when service begins at 9 p.m.—unless their setup genuinely requires it. You’re not preventing lateness; you may be contributing to cold or spoiled food and exhausted staff.

Yes, some vendors are unreliable. Stop hiring them. Don’t punish every competent vendor because you continue to work with unreliable ones.

Give vendors role-specific call times. Invite only those who genuinely need to attend meetings. Share clear briefs and updates in writing.

Structure is important. Performative professionalism is not.

I said what I said.

P.S. I also plan events.

#cometothefront DAY21 by @rufinaogunlesi

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a month ago

39 and coming to the front. 🗣️

If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know my businesses better than you know me 😂

I’m Rufina — entrepreneur, creative, serial founder and, apparently, someone who has finally agreed to stop hiding behind her brands.

I’ve spent years building businesses across fragrance, hospitality, events and lifestyle, mostly very happily behind the scenes.

But I turned 39 last week, and maybe this is the year I show you a little more of the woman behind all of it.

So for the next 30 days, expect more of me, what I’m building, how I build it, the stories behind the brands — and probably a little chaos along the way 😂

Allow me to reintroduce myself. 🤍

#ComeToTheFront DAY01

Thanks to @kunbiesq for making this happen 💕 by @rufinaogunlesi

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a month ago

“How do you manage so many businesses?”

The honest answer? I don’t manage everything perfectly.

Some days I’m building. Other days I’m simply putting out fires. But I’m grateful for the independence my businesses have given me and I’m learning that being independent doesn’t mean doing everything alone.

The right people, support and structure can help you move further and faster.

To my fellow entrepreneurs: what has helped you manage it all?
Day 16: Answer the Question.
#cometothefront by @rufinaogunlesi

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a month ago

COME TO THE FRONT · DAY 05 🗣️

Something I think people often get wrong about luxury…

Luxury isn’t just what people buy. It’s how you make them feel.

The product or space may be beautiful, but the real luxury is in every detail around it: how you’re welcomed, the presentation, the service, the fragrance you remember, the music, lighting, food and atmosphere.

People may forget exactly what they bought, ate or drank, but they rarely forget how an experience made them feel—and whether that feeling stayed with them afterwards.

This Thanksgiving Supper Club by @thegoodpeoplesr is a beautiful reflection of that belief. It shapes everything I create across fragrance, hospitality and events.

I’m not only interested in creating products or beautiful spaces. I want to create worlds, memories and experiences around them.

And the best part? The Good People Supper Club is coming back soon with my favourite team. I can’t wait to show you what we’re creating next. ❤️

What does luxury mean to you?

#cometothefront by @rufinaogunlesi

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a month ago

I almost didn’t post this.

If you know me, you know I’m naturally quite shy. Standing in front of people and talking has never come easily to me. But I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone, and now I’m being even braver by sharing this.

Every version of me that I’ve been proud of has started with doing something that made me uncomfortable. This was one of those moments.

I’m learning that growth doesn’t always have to be loud, it simply starts with saying yes to the things that scare you.

Here’s to being a little braver than yesterday.

@saint.rufina @mspaces.co @moyeafrica by @rufinaogunlesi

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3 months ago